Thoughts and stories, by Pal

I hope we all read these 3 inspiring and enlightening articles about our United States Constitution!  It is so important to know about this, especially today. “The Constitution Hangs by a Brittle Thread”: “Befriending the Constitution” in our Homes (Part 3) By  Rodney K. Smith  · February 12, 2020 This is the final part of a three-part series regarding Joseph Smith’s prophecy that the Constitution would one day hang by a brittle thread and would be “rescued” by the faithful. (Read  part one HERE  and  part two HERE ). As President Ezra Taft Benson declared in his edifying address, “The Constitution – a Heavenly Banner,” “the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by the citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom.” He added, “It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—men and women who will subscribe to and abide by the principles o...

“The Constitution ‘Hangs by a Brittle Thread’” and What Can Be Done About It! (Part 2) By  Rodney K. Smith  · January 8, 2020 This is part two of a three-part series examining Joseph Smith’s prophecy that, “the time would come when the constitution and government would hang by a brittle thread. . . but this people . . . will step forward and save it.”  Part one  examined the history behind the prophecy and presented the findings of a recent study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center surveying adult Americans, which distressingly revealed that only 26% of adults surveyed could name all three branches of government enumerated in the Constitution – the legislative, executive and judiciary. Alarmingly, only 15% knew that the religious liberty is protected by the First Amendment. A mere 14% knew that the freedom of press is secured by the First Amendment. The Constitution is “hang[ing] by a brittle thread,” but there are two major f...

I know that I put a blog on earlier today, but I have finally got the 3 parts of a series on the Constitution.  I will put Part 1 on today, Part 2, tomorrow, and Part 3, the next day.  We need to understand all of this! “The Constitution Hangs by a Brittle Thread”: Joseph Smith’s Prophecy and Our Responsibility By  Rodney K. Smith  · December 9, 2019 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE D. Michael Stewart of the Department of History at Brigham Young University wrote in 1976 in the Ensign, “documents show that Joseph Smith [prophesied] a number of times that the United States and the Constitution would be imperiled and [would be saved]. The first known record of the prophecy dates to July 19, 1840, in Nauvoo, when the prophet [taught], ‘[W]hen the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of...

This article by a colorblind woman was fascinating to me!  I have loved painting and art all my life.  How could I enjoy that if I was colorblind!  I have taken so much in life for granted!  I'll enjoy colors in life, both real, and spiritual, so much more after reading this article! A Color-blind Mother’s Insights on Spiritual Blindness By  Shae Lee  · February 16, 2020 When I began to read through 2 Nephi 6-10 for the Come Follow Me lesson, I thought, oh dear! Big problem, this is all from Isaiah! All I could see as I read through it was apocalyptic doom and gloom. But, as I repeatedly read through it, I began to see with new eyes, I also saw the hope and joy that is the actual predominant message! 2 Nephi 8:11 “…and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” verse 12, “I am he; yea I am he that comforteth you…” and so much more. How did I not see this before? Why did I only see the doom and g...